Why Speaking to The Director was Important

Communication, Communication Coach, Connection, Courage, Difficult Conversation, Empowered Communication, Feelings, Needs, Speak My Truth, Speak Your Truth, Vulnerability

Midway through my teaching career, I started to feel burned out and was concerned because I didn’t know what was next for me.  During that time, I assumed that I would be teaching for at least a few more years, but was longing for some relief of the duties, expectations, and responsibilities of being a teacher.  It felt important for me to let the director know what I was facing and that my role was not sustainable. I didn’t expect a solution.  And, by simply expressing myself, I knew I would find some relief.

When I told him about the effects that my job was having on me, he indirectly suggested that I could find another job at a different school.  I left the meeting feeling discouraged because I did not feel heard by him.  I was already feeling vulnerable in telling him that I was struggling with the demands of my role and to hear that I should look somewhere else hurt.

After I thought more about our conversation, I knew that I had to follow-up with him about the comment that he made to me and the impact that his words had on me.  This wasn’t easy for me because I felt at risk for being honest and in my truth.  When I scheduled another meeting with my director and told him how his comment affected me, to my surprise, he apologized.  While he made no guarantees for any relief in my role, by the end of our meeting, he wanted to make sure that I felt heard by him.  I did.